Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has donated the state model college at Onijaganjagan, near Abeokuta, for the takeoff of the new Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences (FUMMSA), Abeokuta.

The governor made the announcement at the official commissioning of capital projects at the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Abeokuta on Saturday.

Abiodun, who underscored the need for collaboration between states and the government at the center, said it was the second time such a donation would be made to the health sector.

He said: "On that note of collaboration, my brother and Hon. Minister of Education, former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had called my attention to the takeoff issues the newly approved University of Medical Sciences, Abeokuta, is facing.

"He shared with me the fact that the funding provided for the takeoff of this prestigious university will probably only suffice for fencing the green location. He therefore requested that perhaps the state could donate a building, another existing facility to enable this new university to take off.

"We looked around and after consultation and deliberations, we have finally decided, in appreciation of what the federal government has done in giving us this university, I am proud today to announce the donation of the model college at Onijaganjagan to be used as a takeoff structure for this new University of Health Sciences, Abeokuta," the governor noted.

Abiodun said his administration regards health care as the fundamental human right of citizens, hence the need to make medical care accessible to every citizen without hindrance.

The Ogun State Government, Abiodun emphasized, would continue to make significant efforts to invest in primary and secondary health infrastructure as a healthy population is fundamental for a productive and prosperous society.

The governor reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of his administration to support the Federal Medical Center Abeokuta and other medical institutions to deliver efficient and effective medical care, as collaboration and partnership among stakeholders are catalysts for inclusive and sustainable development.

He appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his reform-driven and visionary approach to the health sector, stating that the federal government has strengthened the primary health system and expanded health insurance coverage through the National Health Insurance Authority, as well as providing pharmaceutical and medical equipment to health centers, which helps in transforming healthcare delivery in the country.

While commending the management and staff of FMC for their foresight, professionalism, and unwavering dedication that brought the projects to fruition, Governor Abiodun said the projects would further strengthen the capacity of the hospital and reposition it to fulfill the vision of its founding fathers.

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said the projects commissioned would further position the hospital as a center for medical excellence in the state and country.

According to the minister, the health component of the Renewed Hope Agenda, being implemented through the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, is to ensure access to quality healthcare services at all levels in line with the government's desire.

"In line with our commitment to provide quality healthcare services in all the federal government tertiary institutions, we have been working to impact capacity building and improve infrastructure in our hospitals.

"The strategic showcasing of interventions to improve the capacity of our federal health institutions through infrastructure upgrading will continue as the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks its second anniversary with concrete and impactful achievements," the minister noted.

Former governor of the State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, in his remarks, noted with delight the progress the hospital has made since its inception, adding that his decision to hand over the facility to the federal government has paid off despite opposition from various quarters.

He said: "I handed over this hospital to the federal government in 1993 or thereabouts. At that time, I was maligned; there was great opposition, and I was insulted for ceding what they said was a heritage of Ogun State.

"But, thank God that I was firm; I remained firm. Everybody now realizes that it was a worthwhile decision to have handed over the place to the federal government."

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Hospital's Management Board, Dr. Dayo Israel, said with the provision of state-of-the-art facilities, the hospital is built to meet the health needs of the 21st century, just as it is spreading its tentacles to attract expatriates and staff of multinational companies operating in the state.

While assuring that the medical center would become a world-class health facility that Nigerians would be proud to associate with, the chairman commended the outgoing Medical Director for taking the hospital to greater heights with the various projects executed during his eight years of tenure.

In his welcome address, the outgoing Chief Medical Director, Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu, said his tenure as the Chief Executive of the hospital has brought tremendous growth in the areas of physical development and staff welfare, as there was no major rancor between the staff and management in the last eight years.

According to the outgoing CMD, the hospital in eight years has won numerous awards, including the best customer-friendly facility, adding that the facility operated 40 percent of the open-heart surgeries in Nigeria.

He added that his tenure also witnessed the birth of a Medical University in Abeokuta, whose academic activities would commence in September this year.

He said the commissioning of the Works and Maintenance Building, 400,000 liters Braithwaite Water Reservoir, 180-bed Abdul-Azeez Sanusi-Amosun Ward building, Anatomic Pathology building, House Officers Building, and Oxygen Plant are the fourth in the series of commissioning since his assumption of office.